Abrading apparatus



gh V17, w42.

W. A. ROSEN BERGER ABRADING APPARATUS Filed May l5, 1938 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 17, 1942. w.-A. RosENBERGl/ER 2,276,345

ABRADING- APPARATUS l Filed May 13, -1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Siwa/who@ M//Y//am A. /Podemszyer March 17, 1942. w.v A. osENBERGl-:R v2,276,345

ABRADING APPARATUS Filed May 15, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 'lim lMarch .17, i942. W A. ROSENBERGER v 2,276,345

ABRADING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 13, 1938 March 17, 1942- W. A. ROSENBERGER 2,276,345

ABRADING' APPARATUS Filed May l5, 1938 ,i '7 Sheds-Sheet 6 T /73 um A l/HH'HHHMW 17, 1942. W. A. ROSENBERGER @275,345

ABRDING APPARATUS l Filed may 15,' 193s 7 sheets-sheet 'z 4 Syvum/vtm /i//iam Farencvyer www IPatented Mar. 17, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT oEEicE AaADrNG APPARATUS William A. Rosenberger, Hagerstown, Md., assigny or to Pangborn Corporation, Hagerstown, Md., a corporation of Maryland 1 Application May 13,

26 claims.

The present invention relates to abrading apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for subjecting irregular shaped articles such as cast- 'ings and the like to the action of one or more streams of abrasive propelled at sumciently high velocity to remove scale, foundry sand and other vextraneous material from the castings. or other articles.

Machines of this general character are shown in the prior art. In certain forms of-apparatus the work is placed on a large table which rotates at low speed and successively brings the articles under an abrasive propelling wheel., In others the work is placed upon small tables which are -order to achievev complete cleaning, it consumes time, increases cleaning costs and greatly curtails the quantity of work that may be turned out by the machine.

It is accordingly the major object of this invention to provide a novel abrading apparatus embodying a plurality of tables having means for rotating them in a blasting zone and which i will eiciently clean all sides of the articles except the bottom surfaces, thereby effecting automatic cleaning of the articles with but a single turnover during the abrading operation.

A further important object is to-provide a rotatable table abrading apparatus with novel table rotating mechanisms which will efilciently rotate the tables in the blasting zone and allow the tables to come to restl outside the blasting zone, andwhich are simple and rugged in design.

A further defect inherent in the machines of the prior art resides in the failure of their abrasive reclaiming systems to eicently handle the spent abrasive, with the result that a suiiicient quantity of spent abrasive and material removed from the articles frequently collects on the floor of the machine to subject the driving partsv to high stresses and in some instances stall the machine or damage the parts.

It is accordingly a further object to devise a rotatable table abrading apparatus embodying 193s, serial No. 207,801

(C1. sil- 9) novel means for rapidly and veiiiciently collecting the spent abrasive and returning it to a reclaiming system for re-use in the apparatus.

Another object is to provide rotatable table abrading machines with a novel abrasive reclaiming mechanism which embodies a scraper device driven at a greater speed than the table structure for promptly conveying the spent abrasive from the iioor of the apparatus, thereby preventing a layer of abrasive of any considerable thickness from building up on the floor. y

A still further object is to generally improve and rene certain other features of table'machines and which will become apparent as the specification proceeds in connection with the annexed drawings, and from the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view` of an abrading apparatus embodying the invention and parts have been broken away ,to more clearly show certain features of the construction.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the'apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 with the abrasive cleaning device removed.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the machine shown in Figures 1 and 2 as it appears when viewed from the right-hand side of Figure 1, and a portion of thehousing has been broken away in order to illustrate the manner in which the abrasive streams are directed against the work.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the housing of the machine shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, and is taken along line 6 4 of Figure 2, but the table mechanism removed therefrom in order to simplify the disclosure.

Figure 5 is a iragmental vertical sectional view of the housing shown in Figure 4, and is taken on the line 5 5 of that gure.

lFigure 6 is a fragmental vertical sectional view centrally through the apparatus of Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, and is takenv substantially along 'the line 6 8 of Figure 2; and in the position shown, the driving wheel is engaged with the active track. f

Figure 7 is a vertical fragmental sectional view through the outer end of one of the table supporting arms and illustrates'the table driving mechanism, the parts in the position shown cooperating with the stationary track to disengage the driving wheel from the driving track.

Figure 8 is a fragmental top plan view illustrating a position of the scraper and driving track supportingassembly, the track being omitted .in

this figure to more clearly show other details.A

Figure 9 is a top plan view with parts in section of the structure for supportingthe tables and it also illustrates the manner in which the radiating arms are pivotally connected to the rotatingV when viewed substantially along the line Il-I of vFigure 2, and when one table is midway between the two wheels.

turn supply the cleaned abrasive to the abrasive throwing wheels. f

Housing construction.

Referring more particularly "to Figures 4 and 5.

housing H is provided with a plurality of legs III which may rest upon the oor or be bolted there- A to. 'I'he housing is provided with a low -level front portion II which is preferably at a convenient level to allow a worker to place articles upon and remove them from the tables as they Figure 11 is a somewhat diagrammatic view illustrating a modified form of table supportingand driving mechanism.

Figure l2 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 11 but shows a further modification of the invention.

form of table and driving mechanism.

Figure 13 illustrates a sun further modified Figure 14 illustrates th'e table driving mechanism of Figure 13 cooperating with a different form of track assembly,

Figure 15 is a view illustrating a'table driving mechanism similar to Figure 12, but it embodies a modified form of supporting roller assembly.

Figure 16 is a view showing a geared form cf driving mechanism also forming part of the invention.

Figure 1'7 is a top plan diagrammaticview of a modified form of apparatus embodying two blast-v ing stations.

Figure 18 is a diagrammatic view showing a modied form of table driving `mechanism of the invention. ce-- Figure 191s a similar view snowing a further',

Figure 20 is a diagrammatic view showing a transverselyswinging roller mount for Figure is a view similar to lFigure 24 but shows a further modification of the invention.

With continued reference to the drawings, wherein like reference characters have been employed to designate like parts throughout the sev..

c eral views thereof. and with particular reference to Figures 1 to.3, inclusive, the apparatus embodies a housing H in which a plurality of tables T travel in a circular path. Tables T are. rotated in the blasting station and the blasting operation is' carried out `by means of a pair 'of' centrifugal blast wheels A and B. After the abrasive is spent it is carried to the bottom or boot of an elevator structure E of any desired construction, and

it is elevated and discharged into an abrasive cleaning apparatus C mounted on top of the ma.- chine, and which may be of any suitable form so long as it emciently removes nails, metallic fragments and other debris from the spent abrasive, and also `removes the dust and the: foundry sand before the abrasive is fed backinto the wheels.

The lower portion of abrasive cleaner C is provided With a pair of storage hoppers which terminate in abrasive control valves D and which in successively reach the loading and unloading station in front of the machine. 'I'he housing is pro'- vided with a cylindrical wall I2 and in top plan view the machine is of circular form. Preferably a pair of openings I3 are located in the rear wall in order to allow easy access to the blasting zone and if desired inspection of the mechanism while the blasting operation is actually being carried out. Openings I3 are provided with removable doors I4. The housing is provided with a roof I5 in which a pair of openings are provided through which the abrasive propelling wheels discharge the abrasive upon the work as it is successfully carried past them on the rotating tables, i

to be hereinafter described.

A nat' horizontal floor I1 is provided in the housing and it is reinforced by various members not shown and is'securedat its outer edge to wall I2. Supported at the' outer periphery of the door is a sloping wail Il which is secured to wall I2 and operates to convey abrasive gravitating from the periphery of the tables inwardly onto door I1. Rigidly secured to wall I3, by means of a plurality of brackets I3, is a circular track 2| having inclined ends 22. This track extends from a point "within the blasting chamber around through front portion I I of the housing and back into the cabinet and it operates to-lift the driving' mechanism of the tables clear from the driving track when;V the tables leave the blasting zone in order to allow them to come to rest outside the machine in a manner to be hereinafter pointed out.

Extending entirely across the iloor I1,l rearwardly of the axis of the mechanism, is a trough 23 for receiving the spent abrasive which accumulates on the floor, and it is propelled into the trough by a scraper or propelling mechanism to be hereinafter described. A screw conveyor 24 is lo `ated in trough 23 and is driven in any suitable manner and it conveys the abrasive accumulated in trough 23 to the boot of elevator E, by which it is carried to the cleaning mechanism as previously described.

' Floor I1 is provided with a central aperture 26 and secured to the floor and aligned with aperture 23 is a flanged collar 21, which prevents abrasive from working through opening 23'from the floor. The main shaft of the apparatus projects through opening 26 and rests upon a rugged supporting structure made vup of a plain pair of plates 28 and a pair of channels 23, th'e'parts being rigidly riveted together and secured to a pair of cross members 3|.

Scraper and drive mechanism Mounted in housing H below the floor is a motor 32 (Figure 6) connected to la gear box 33 which has a' driving sprocket 34. Sprocket 34 is connected by means of a sprocket chain 35 to a driven sprocket36 keyed on a shaft 31. The lower end df shaft 31 is journaled in a bearing 38 carried by a bearing support 33 which has a spherical face 4I cooperating with a similarly shaped face which it cooperates withthe tables will be hereiny through he loading of the tables.

A dust and abrasive seal assembly 43 is seafter set forth. I

AlthoughA I have shown a scraper having straight portions 64, 65 and 56 they may be recured to member 39 and frictionally cooperating with shaft 31 to retain the lubricant in bearing 38 and to exclude abrasive and dust therefrom. Also, a depending baiile member 44 is preferably ,mounted on shaft 31 and enoloses the seal for preventing abrasive and dust from gravitating thereto. The upper end of shaft 31 is journaled in a bearing 45 carried by a stationary cap member 46. As seen more clearly in Figure 3, cap member 46 is rigidly secured to a plate 41 and a channel 48 which extends across the top of the housing.

Shaft 31 is provided with an enlarged portion 5|- and provides an abutment for a hub member 52 which fits over the shaft and is provided with a flange 53. Hub member 62 is provided with a shoulder 54 which abuts enlargement 5| and the hub is'keyed to the shaft by any suitable means y (not shown).

Secured to hub member 52 and flange 53 thereof bya plurality of cap screws 55 and bolt and nut assemblies 56 are a plurality of channel members 51, which are each provided with a cut-away portion 58 for allowing them to clear the bearings lor the tables, `as will be hereinafter pointed. out. Asmore clearly seen in Figure 8, a plurality of angle brackets 58, 6| and 52 are rigidly secured to arms 51 and riveted thereto are scraper members 63 which are each provided with a rearwardly and outwardly inclined portion 64, which functions to prevent a concentration of accumulated abrasive adjacent the axis; a main abrasive propelling portion 65 which is substantially radial; and an outer portion 66 which inclines outwardly and forwardly with respect to the direction of rotation of the scraper assembly (shown as being counterclockwise in Figure 8) in order to gather the abrasive collecting at the periphery of the .iioor and propel it both forwardly and inwardly to trough 23.

It is therefore apparent that as the abrasive gravitates to floor |1 it is' constantly .acted upon by Scrapers 63, which rapidly clear the floor of abrasive and prevent a layer of any appreciable thickness from building up thereon. Also, by reason of the forward and outward inclination of portion 5E the outer portion of the door, which is of greater area than the portion adjacent the 'I' axis and receives more abrasive, is subjected to the action of comparatively long scraper elements and they are so inclined as to propel the abrasive inwardly as wellv as forwardly, thereby rapidly propelling the abrasive into trough 23.

Each arm 51 is also provided withV a cut-out portion 68 atits outer end, and welded to the. shoulders thus formed are a plurality of brackets 69. Also welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto is a steel band 1|, which is spliced a 12 to provide a continuously smooth outer surface. Snugly fitting over band 1| and secured thereto; and to brackets 68 by bolt and nut assemblies 12 is an angular track member 13 having a rounded upper surface or other form of track for preventing spent abrasive from accumulating thereon. Track'13 will be hereinafter termed the active track as it drives the tables about their axes and it extends for 360 degrees at a constant level around arm structure 51 and the manner in placed by a continuously curved member without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Table supporting structure The work supporting tables are supported upon a structure carried by shaft 31 but they rotate in a direction Iopposite thereto.

Journaled cna thrust bearing 15, (Figure 6) which abuts a shoulder 16 formed on shaft 31, is a drum 11. If desired a dust and lubricant seal 18 may be secured to drum 11 and frictionally cooperate with shoulder 1B of shaft 31. A somewhat similar drum 8| is journaled on the upper end of shaft' 31 by means of a bearing 82 and clust and lubricant seal 83 is preferably carried by the drum and engages theshaft. Drums 11 and 8| are provided with cylindrical outer surfaces and secured thereto, by means of a plurality of bolt 'and nut assemblies 84 and 85, is a cylindrical shell 88 which constitutes the main support `for the tables.

The inner surface of drum 8| is formed as an internal gear 86 which meshes with a pair of pinions 81. Pinions 81.are journaled on studs 88 carried by support member 48 and they in turn mesh with a drive pinion 88 which is rigidly secured to the upper end of shaft 31. Preferably a seal 8| is secured to the lower edge of cap 46 and sealingly cooperates with the outer face of drum 8|. Seals 83 and 8|, accordingly, provide a closed lubricant chamber within drum 8| for reception of a quantity of lubricant to constantly bathe the gears and bearings. The lubricant may be introduced into the chamber by any suitable means (not shown).

It is accordingly seen that when shaft 31 is driven in a direction indicated in Figure 6 by motor 32 and the scraper mechanism will be driven in one direction and pinion 88 will drive Pinions 81 and internal gear 86 in the opposite direction to rotate support 86 in the opposite direction from shaft 31. Tables T aretherefore transported in one direction and the scraper assembly rotates in the opposite direction.

Secured in spaced relationship around the lower part of drum 85 are a plurality of members having outwardly extending portions 92. Secured to portions 82 by means of bolt and nut assemblies 93 are a plurality of pairs of channels 94. In Figure 6 the section is taken between two channels of a pair and it is seen that the flanges face toward each other. Also secured to portions 92 by bolts and nut assemblies 85 are gusset plates 86, which are -riveted to .channels 84. In the form of the invention illustrated, five pairs of channels 84 are employed and they constitute the primary supports for the tables. Pivoted to the outer end of each pair of channels 84 are a f pair of channels 98. As seen in Figures 6 and 9,

channels 98 are disposed with their flanges facing of U-shaped members |25.

and |06 together with a spacer member |01. Bearings and |06 are mounted Within a sleeve |08 which in turn is carried by a cylindrical hub |09. Hub |09 is Welded to a plate 0 which carries a circular track Plate ||0 is also welded to the table member proper ||2,- which has a plurality of perforations ||3 therein for allow-7 ing abrasive to gravitate therethrough, and a similarly apertured removable table plate ||4 is mounted over plate 2 and is secured thereto' by bolt and nut assemblies ||5.

'I'he latter-also hold a rim member I6 in assembled relationship with plates ||2. Plates ||4 and rim IIB are both subjected to the action of the abrasive as they carry the work through the blast chamber, but they protectplates ||2 and the other permarient parts below the tables against wear and slipped over pivots |04 they-may allow t' e tables to move up and down a slight distance withrespect to their pivots for a purpose that will presently appear.

Also rigidly secured between each pair of channels 98. in any suitable manner, are a pair Members are provided with a pair of aligned openings |23 and a pair of collare |21 each having a set screw |23 threaded therein and are welded to members |25 with their openings in alignment with openings- |20. A shaft |29 is secured in members |21 and a driving friction wheel or roller |3| is rotatably `-""mounted on the inner end of shaft |29 and an idle wheel or roller |32 is rotatably mounted on the outer end; As these wheels are identical in construction only one `of them will be described movement of the tables. Under these conditions, therefore, the tables undergo a slow translator-y movement, but do not rotate about their vertical axes. Therefore, the operator may readily remove the cleaned work from the tables and replace them with fresh work. Also if desired the operator may manually turn the table to facilitate the loading and unloading operation because wheel 3| may freely rotate on shaft |29.

Assuming that the fresh work has been placed Y upon the table in question. it enters the blast to the direction of translatory movement of the table, roller |3| is rotated at appreciable speed in the direction indicated in Figure 6. As'substantially the entire weight of the table is resting upon the upper peripheral vsurface o'f roller' |3| the latter imparts rotation to the table in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 6.

The table is then translated through the blasting zone while it continuously rotates about its vertical axis andvwhen it attains a pointsub- I stantially diametrically opposite the inclined portion 22 of track 2| shown in' Figure 4, roller |32, encounters a similarly inclined portion of the track and rides up on it therebylifting arm 90 and disengaging its roller |3| from track 13.

Athereby allowing the tableta -cometo rest outside the blasting chamberl vIn view of the fact that the translatory speed -of the tables is comparatively slow (clockwisel 'one-third to one-ninth revolutions per minute)- and it is desired to secures. comparatively high Y rotative speed of the tables in the'blast zone for in detail. Taking wheel |3I, it'is rotatably..

Y mounted on shaft |29 by means of a bushing |33 and it is secured against endwise removal from the shaft by means Aof plate |34 which is se cured to the shaft in any suitable manner and bears against the outer end of bushing |33. A cap member |35 is removably secured to wheel |3| by means of cap screws |36 and a lubricant seal |31 is provided in the other end of the hub vto provide a lubricant and dust-tight chamber.

Plate |35 also limits movement of wheel |3| to the right.

Secured to whee1|3| by means of.bolt and nut assemblies |38 is a demountable rim |39 which cooperates with a flange 4| on the wheel to securely hold a tire 42 in place. Tire |42 may be made of rubber, fibre or any suitable material but I have found steel to be entirely satisfactory.

The tables are accordingly mounted for translatory movement into and outV of the blast chamber, and they are also mounted for rotation about substantially vertical axes. Assuming that the table under consideration is in the loading zone outside of the cabinet, the parts will appear as illustrated in Figure 7, with idle roller |32 engaged with stationary track 2|. In this condia level suiiciently high to prevent roller |3| from engaging active track 13, which is rotating in a tion of the parts,.roller |32 maintains arm 98 at direction opposite to the direction of translatory emciently abrading the articles, (seven to two and one-third revolutions per minute), rollers |,3| are 'placed as close-to the vertical axes of the tables as is practicable in order to secure the proper speed ratio between theparts. However, in some installations, if it is desired to obtain a high table speed a separate roller of small diameter may be used to engage the active track and a. separate roller rotated in unison with the rst roller and of a larger diameter may be used to engage the tables so as to obtain a step-up in the speed. Also, if desired, gear or belt and pulleydrives may be interposed between the roller that engages the active track and the roller that engages the table. although I have shown a friction wheel for engaging the table, it is understood that the roller cooperating with the active track may be utilized to drive a shaft which is in turn geared to the table and drives it through other well known power transmitting mechanisms. Certain of these constructions will be described later.

Although I have illustrated the stationary track 2| as terminating inside of the blasting chambers so as to allow the tables to be translated without rotation some. distance into the blastingchamber, it is to be understood that beveled ends 2,2 thereof may be located at various points on the circumference, depending upon the characteristics desired in the particular installation involved. For instance they may be located outside the cabinet so as to cause the Also.-

tables to start to rotate before they -enter the blasting chamber if desired.

I have shown the tables as being carried by a plurality of pivoted arms in order that they may move up and down and allow the driving rollers to be successively engaged and disengaged from the active track, and I prefer to employ this construction 'as it is rugged and operates with a minimum of friction.

For work that is difdcult to clean, I have found it desirable to rotate the main table supporting structure at approximately one-ninth revolutions per minute and which results in a speed of two and one-third revolutions per minute of the tables and a counterclockwise speed of one-third revolutions'per minute of the scrapers and track.

The scrapers accordingly rotate at three times` the speed of the supporting structure.

Since the table supporting assembly and the scraper assembly are positively integeared, and since the tables are frictionally geared to the rotating track 13, variation in the speed of one of the parts will result in a precisely proportional variation in the speed of the other parts. For

' instance, with work that is easy `to clean, it has been found desirable to rotate the main table at approximately one-third revolutions per minute and this results in a rotation of the tables at a speed of seven revolutions per minute' and a rotation of the Scrapers and track assembly counterclockwise at a speed of one revolutior.` per minute.

In each instance it is observed that the scraper assembly rotates three times faster than the table supporting structure and in the opposite direction, with the result that the abrasive is rapidly cleared from the floor and is not permitted 'to build up thereon to any appreciable thickness. This results in eciently clearing the spent abrasive and in insuring that the parts will not be subjected to severe stresses or damage through abrasive accumulation.

In order to prevent the work that should fall off the tables from dropping down onto the floor |1, a plurality of perforated plates are mounted above and are supported by channels 94 and 9B and a plurality of supporting members that will now be described. A plurality 4of small plates |45 are mounted (Fig. 9) on channels 94 and' they are provided with cut-out portions |46 for gusset plates 96. Abutting the outer edge of plates 45 are sector-shaped plates |41 and substantially rectangular plates |48. The latter plates are supported on a pair of members |49 and and which are in turn supported by brackets |52 which are supported on the lower flanges of channels 98. Since the parts are not rigidly connected, the slight up and down movement of members 98 is not hindered by the various plates.

Abrasive propelling mechanism 'The means employed to discharge the abrasive downwardly upon the work as it is rotated on the tables .preferably assumes the form of a pair of abrasive propelling wheels, but, so far as the table and driving mechanism is concerned any desired means may be used to propel the abrasive. In the form of the invention illustrated, twowheels are preferably used and which are so related to the path of travel of the tables as to efficiently clean all surfaces of the articles except the surface upon which the article is resting. Wheels A and B may assume any desired form such, for instance, as disclosed in Keefer patents Nos.

abrasive.

2,108,005 and 2,108,006. Theyl may be bladed wheels .operating to discharge the abrasive solely downwardly or they lmay embody other means for imparting directional control to the thrown If desired, however, the wheels may assume' the form of those illustrated in Keefer patent No. 2,116,153, dated May 3, 1938. Each wheel embodies a rotor R mounted on a shaft |54 carried in a bearing |55. A motor |56 drives each rotor through a belt drive assembly housed in a casing |51. Abrasive is fed to each rotor through a pipe |58 which is connected to the abrasive valve D of cleaning mechanism C.

Each abrasive rotor assembly is mounted upon an auxiliary housing |59 which is supported over the openings in' the roof of housing H, and as seen in Figure 3 the wheels are so supported that their axes are inclined with respectto the horizontal, so that their discharge streams |6| and |62, lwhich are generally fan-shaped in configuration, are disposed at an inclination to the vertical and are operable to clean the side walls as lwell as the top surfaces of the article of work W illusrated as being in place on table T in-Figure Further cleaning of the` sides of the` Work is eiected by reason of the fact that the discharge streams I6| and |62 converge downwardly as seen in Figure 10, wherein the work has rotated degrees from the position illustrated in-Figure 3. As seen in that figure they cleanthe side walls as well as the upper surfaces of the work.

The discharge streams converge downwardly because the rotors are operated in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows, a'nd although theSl are shown as rotating away from each other in order tor clean the exterior side walls of the articles .most effectively, they may be designed to rotate towards each other if the nature of the work makes it more desirable to operate them in this manner.

The rotors accordingly each throw a discharge stream which produces a pattern of elongated configuration in top plan view at the level of the tables, and with the rotors disposed as shown in Figure 3, the major axis of each impingement pattern is substantially tangential with respect to the path of translatory movement of the tables. This has been 'found to be an extremely eflicient relation of the parts as the articles of work are through the blasting chamber.

Wheels A and B'may be adjusted to direct their stream at greater or smaller converging angles at the tables, depending upon the nature of the work being handled by the machine.

In Figures l1 to 16, inclusive, I have'illustrated modified forms of table rotating mechanisms, and the major point of difference between them and those previously described resides yin the fact tha-t a stationary active track is employed, so that the resulting rotation of the tables is solely due to the translatory movement thereof.

In Figure 11, I have shown table T as being journaledupon an arm |1|, the latter being pivoted to the end of an arm |12 carried by vertical rotatable shaft |13. Shaft |13 carries other arms |1| for the other tables and is driven in a manner similar to shaft 31 and also s-upports the scraper mechanism (not shown). Arm |12. also embodies a stop |14 for supporting arm |1| when it is not actually supported by engagement of its roller with active-track |11.

Arm |1| carries a shaft |15 upon which is journaled a driving roller |16 disposed in driving engagement with the underside of the ltable. Roller |16 cooperates with an active track which is supported in the housing by a plurality of brackets-|19. Track |11 is provided with inclined ends |18 for causing roller |16 to be gradually picked up. Figure 11 illustrates the conditions that exist when arm |'|2 is translating the tables through the blasting chamber and roller |78 is riding upon 'track and produces rotation of table T inthe direction indicated in somewhat the same general manner as that described in connection with the other fhorms of the invention The points of difference :being that track |11 is stationary and'no supporting track is used because arms rest upon stops |14 whenthe rollers reach the end of track |11. l A

In View of the fact that it is necessary to translate the tables comparatively slowly in order to subject the articles to the abrasive streamsv for a sulicient length of time to properly clean them, the construction shown in Figure 11 may not produce suiciently high speed of rotation of tables T for certain classes of work, and in Figure l2 I have illustrated a structure which meets this condition of operation.

In this form of the invention each table T is rotatably supported on an arm |8| which is carried by arm |12a. Rigidly secured to arm |8| is a shaft |82 and journaled thereon is a large roller |83 and a small roller |84, which are integrally connected, and an idle roller which'is independent 'f the drive rollers and merely is employed to support the assembly when the drive rollers are not engaged with the active track. Roller |84 cooperates in driving frictional engagement with active track |17 and asit is When two stationary tracks are employed to cooperate'with the driving and supporting mechanism of the tables, the supporting roller may operate to lift the driving rollers from engagement with the driving track in the loading zone or conversely, the tracks may be located at such levels that the driving roller cooperates with it and acts to lift the idle roller away from its supporting track in the blasting zone. .These two constructions are illustrated in Figures 13 and 14.

In Figure 13, table T is supported vby pivoted arm |8| as in Figure 12, and it carries a drive roller |88 and an idle roller |89 which cooperate respectively with an active track |9| and an inactive or supporting track |92. With this con-` struction, active track |9| may extend all the way around the apparatus or may terminate adjacent the ends of track |92 as the latter positively lifts the drivingroller out of engagement other if desired. For instance, the independentwith its track I9| when the loading zone is reached.

In Figure 14, I have illustrated the structure of Figure 13 as being associated with a diiferent track construction comprising an active track |93 and an inactive supporting track |94. In this form of the'invention the tracks are arranged at such levels that upon engagement of drive roller |88 with the active track in the.

blasting zone, arm |8| is lifted up so as to disengage idle roller |89 from track |94. In this form of the invention track |94 may .be disposed for 360 degrees of the device if desired because track |93 is at a higher eiective level.

In connection with the forms of invention illustrated in Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15, it is to be distinctly understood that, if desired, the tracks may be disposed at the same effective height. In other words, the active track and the inactive track may be disposed at such a level that when the transition from the driving roller to the idle roller is made the table carrying arms will neither tip up nor down and this eiected by merely overlapping the ends of the two tracks so that the idle roller will be in supporting relationship to its track for a slight distance beyond the point at which the driving roller comes into contact with its track.

In Figure 15 I have illustrated a construction wherein table T is supported upon an arm |9|a as previously disclosed-and la double drive roller assembly |83a and |84a are mounted on a shaft |82a carried by arm Isla, as in Figure 12. In this form of the invention, however, I have shown an idle roller |95 mounted for rotation in a pair of arms carried by arm |8|a and cooperating with a supporting track |96. The latter is shown in phantom lines, as drive roller |84 is being driven by engagement with its track Illa in the blasting chamber. In this form of theinvention I have also illustrated tracks being disposed at the same eiective level so that when the end of track Illa is reached, track |98 will come into play and cooperate with supporting roller |95,

'casing |91. Table T is connected to a shaft that carries a gear pinion |98 at its lower end and which meshes with a bevel gear |99 rigidly se- 0 cured to a shaft 20|. Shaft 20| rigidly carries a drive roller 202 which cooperates with an active track 203. A supporting roller |95a cooperates with a supporting track |a and rollers |95a and 202 are alternately engaged and disengaged with their tracks |96a and 203 in the mannerrdescribed in connection with Figure 15. In this form of the invention,.however, it is unnecessary to employ a double drive roller assembly as gear |99 is larger than gear |98 and provides the necessary step-up in speed of the table.

It is to be understood that various features of the several embodiments of the invention may be combined in dinerent relationships with each supporting wheel mount shown in Figures 15 and 16 may be incorporatedin all of the forms, of the invention. Likewise the arm |12 having the stop |14 shown in Figure 11 may be used in all forms of the invention to obviate the need for a supporting wheel assembly. Also certain forms of the invention illustrated in Figures 11 to 16, inclusive, embodying a stationary active' track, may be also incorporated in the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 10, and which embodies a movable active track.

vAlthough `I have-showna machine embodying but a single blasting station, it is` to be understood that two or more blasting stations may be located in the same housing or they may be sepaxes and work may be readily placed thereon.

When shaft |13 has 4been rotated sufclently to carry the loadedtable into .the blast chamberv 204, roller |88 engages .active track |93a. and causes the table to rotate aboutits axisv as it travels through the chamber and is acted upon by the abrasive stream or streams.

roller -228 in the loading zone to' disengage roller 222 from track 22|.

The construction shown in Figure 19 is'somewhat similar to that of Figure 18 except that wheel 222a is mounted in a bearing assembly 224a which is mounted in offset trunnions 230 carried by arm 2200., and track 221a is of limited length so that when thevtable is located in the loading zone a stop 23| supports assembly 224a..

whereas in the blasting chamber wheel 222a engages track 221a and is rocked into engagement with track 22|.

In Figures and 21 each table T is journaled in an arm 233 which is rigidly carried by vertical rotatable shaft (not shown) and is adapted to be carried in a horizontal path through the blasting chamber. Member 233 carries a pair of When the tables pass out of chamber 204 and the articles are clean onV their upper surfaces and sides, roller |88 rolls down out of contact with track |93a` and supporting wheel |89 comes into contact with a second track |94b. The tables are accordingly translated without rotation in a turnover station 201 so that an operator may turn the work over before it enters blasting chamber 205 for a second cleaning operation. As the tables enter housing 205 their driving rollers |88 engage a second active track |93b and are rotated in the blast streams in the blasting chamber.

When the tables come out of chamber 205 their rollers. |89 engage track |9411 and Vare accordingly translated without rotation in station 206, and the operator may remove the cleaned work and place fresh work on the tables. This apparatus therefore eiects complete cleaning of the work with but one pass through the machine and is well suited to high quantity production and all of the previously described forms of the invention may be embodiedin multi-station machines.

For simplifying the disclosure, the abrasive propelling mechanism has not been shown in Figure 17, but each chamber 204 and 205 is pref' erably provided with one or more wheels arranged asshown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, so as to blast the sides as well as the top surfaces of the work as it passes through the blasting chambers.

The mechanism may assume various forms in which the supporting arms for the tables are rigidly secured to the supporting structure and in Figures 18 to 25, inclusive, I have illustrated certain forms of mechanism of this character.

In Figure 18 tables T are journaled in a plurality of arms 220 which are rigidly carried by a vertical rotatable shaft or the like, (not shown). A track member 22| is secured to the underside of table T and frictionally cooperates with a wheel or roller 222 which is mounted on a shaft 223. Shaft 223 is journaled in a bearing assembly 224 which is mounted in trunnions 225 carried by a pair of arms 226 of arm 220. Wheel 222 is constantly engaged by an active track 221 and an idle roller 22B is rotatably mounted on shaft 223 and is operative to engage a track 229 of limited length and tilt shaft 22'3 and force roller 222 into frictional engagement with track 22| in the blasting chamber as shown in Figure 18.

If desired. however, shaft 223 may be spring urged in a counter-clockwise direction, so as to tend to constantlyvengage roller- 222 with table track 22| and track 229 may be located above idle arms 234 which rockably support the trunnions 235v of a bearing assembly 236, and journaled in the latter is a shaft 231 to which are rigidly secured a pairof driving rollers 238 and 239. Roller 238 cooperates with the underside of table T and roller 239 cooperates with a track 24| of limited length, located in the blasting chamber.

Tables T may undergo vertical movement with respect to arms 233 and when they are being translated through the loading zone the hubs of the tables rest upon the upper 'surface of the arms 233. When they enter the blasting chamber wheels 239 engage the underside of track 24| a`nd cause shaft 231 to rock clockwise a slight amount into the position shown in Figure 20. This action causes wheel 238 to f rictionally engage the underside of table T and lift the latter thereby developing a clearance 242 as shown in Figure 20. Therefore, when the tables are in the blasting zone the entire weight of lthe table is carried by roller 238, and roller 239 engagestrack A24| with a substantial equal pressure, thereby vbetween the parts.

In Figures 22, 23 and 24 there is illustrated a construction having certain features in common with that of Figures 20 and 21 as tables T are mounted for rotation on, and are capable ofv slightvertical movement with respect to arm 233a. The latter is provided with a lateral extension 244 carrying a shaft 245 on which is Journaled a bifurcated lever 246. Lever 246 carries a lug 241 in which a set screw 248 is threaded and the latter cooperates with an abutment 249 carried by arm 244. Screw 248 supports lever 246 in the loading zone and many be adjusted to properly locate the parts. Journaled on ashaft 25| carried by lever` 246 is a roller 252, which frictlonally cooperates with the underside of the table and an active `track 253. As shown in Figures 22, 23 and 24 roller 252 is riding up inclined portion 254 of track 253 and the table shown is accordingly in the blasting chamber. When the upper part of the track is attained, roller 252 will engage the, underside of table T and lift the latter a slight amount, so that the entire weight of the table will be carried by the roll and good driving pressure will be secured. Track 253 is substantially co-extensive with the blasting chamberand tables T will be `rotated while they travel through it and when roll down outof contact with the table so as to allow the table to come to rest in the loading zone and throughout the travel of the tables through the loading zone levers 246 are supported by lug 249 and screw 248.

If it is desired to secure a greater rotative speed of the tables for a predetermined translation speed, the parts may be constructed as shown in Figure 25, wherein lever 246e is enlarged to provide for journaling two rollers 25S and 257 which are rigidly joined to each other. Roller 256 frictionally cooperates with the underside of table T and roller 251 cooperates with track 253. This form of the invention functions in the same manner as that/just described with the exception that rollers 25S and 251 rotate the tables at a higher speed for any given translatory speed of arms 233m.

The invention may be embodied inother specic forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing stantially vertical axis and having an upwardly description, and all changes which come 4within \the meaning and-range o f equivalency of theV claims are therefore intended to ve embraced A therein.

What is claimed and desired tobe secured by United States Letters Patent is:

l. In an abrading apparatus, means providin a blastingchamber; means for propelling at least one stream of abrasive downwardly in said blasting chamber; a plurality of upwardly facing table-like work supports; a conveyor mechanism for transporting said supports in a fixed substantially`horizontal path in sequence through said blasting chamber for subjecting articles thereon to the action of said stream of abrasive; means mounting said supports for rotation about ,substantially vertical axes; power transmitting means including a wheel having a substantially horizontal axis carried by said conveyor mechanism for transmitting rotative efforts to said supports; a track assembly disposed parallel to the path of translatory movement of said suppoi ts through said blasting chamber and adapted to engage and drive said wheel as said work supports pass through said blasting chamber, to eff ect ,rotation thereof about their axes; a second wheel having a substantially horizontal axis on said conveyor mechanism; and a second track assembly for engaging said second wheel and disengaging said power transmitting mechanism from said rst track assembly for causingvsaid work supports to cease to rotate when they pass out of said `blasting chamber for permitting articles to be removed and replaced.

2. The abrading apparatus defined in claim 1,'

wherein said flrst-mentioned track assembly extends'the full length of said tlxed path of travel of said supports and is provided with means for cooperating in frictional driving engagement with parts of said power transmitting mechanism.

3. The abrading apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said iirst-named track assembly extends parallel to the fixed path of travel of said supports throughout the full length thereof ad is provided with means for driving it in a direction opposite to the translatory movement of said supports through said blasting chamber.

4. In an abrading apparatus, means providing a blasting chamber; means for propelling at least one stream of abrasive downwardly in said blastfacing article supporting surface, said arms being operable to successively carry said supports through said blasting chamber when said upright member is rotated; and a trackassembly for supporting said arms throughout 360 degrees of rotation of said upright member; and driving and supporting mechanismmounted on each of said arms and cooperating with said track assembly for automatically causing said supports to rotate as they pass through said blasting chamber and subject said articles to the action of said stream of abrasive, and for allowing said supports to come to rest outside of said blasting chamber for facilitating removal and replacement of-articles thereon.

5. The abrading apparatus dened in claim 4, wherein said driving and supporting mechanism embodies a friction driving` Wheel cooperating with said track assembly and frictionally engaging the underside of said support for rotating the latter as it passes through said blasting chamber.

6. The abrading apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein said track assembly comprises an active track for causingsaid driving and supporting mechanism to rotate said supports as they pass through said blasting chamber, and a supporting track cooperating with said driving and supporting mechanism for causing said arms to lift said driving and supporting mechanism clear of said active track when said supports have passed out of said blasting chamber, to allow them to come to rest.

'7. The abrading apparatus dened in claim 4,

wherein said track assembly comprises a primary track mounted lfor movement in a direction opposite to the direction of translatory movement of said supports through said blast zone and a stationarily supported secondary track cooperating with said arms outside of said blasting chamber for lifting said driving and supporting mechf anism clear of said primary track to allow said supports to come to rest outside said blasting chamber.

8. In an abrading apparatus, mechanism for conveying articles `into and out of an abrading zone, comprising a structure rotatable about a substantially vertical axis; a plurality of arms l radiating from said structure and having carriers adjacent the outer ends; means mounting said carriers for vertical movement with respect to said structure; a work support journaled in each carrier and operable to rotate about a substantially vertical axis thereon; a stationarily supported track of limited effective length; a suppcrting wheel mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis in each of said carriers and operable to ride upon said supporting track without rotating said supports while said structure is rotating through a predetermined arc; a riring track of limited effective length; and al driving wheel journaled in each of said carriers and operable to ride`upon said driving track and .support said carriers and also transmit rotative rfforts to said supports while said supporting structure is rotated through another predeterminedlarc.

9. The apparatus delnedin claim 8, wherein said tracks are located at such levels and said wheels are of such diameter as to cause said driving wheels to `successively lift said carriers when they engage said driving track.

10. The apparatus dened in claim 8, wherein right cylindrical housing having a substantially horizontal iioor; a trough provided in said floor and having means for conveying abrasive away therefrom; an article carrying mechanismdisposed in said housing and movable in a horizontal circuitous path abovesaid floor; means for propelling abrasive against said articles, said abrasive being deposited upon said iioor after it has spent its energy against said work; a scraper mechanism for sweeping the abrasive accumulated upon said floor into said trough comprising a blade member mounted for rotation about a vertical axis with its lower edge in close proximity to said floor; and power operated means for simultaneously rotating said article carrying mechanism and said blade member, said power operated means rotating said blade member at a greater speed than said article carrying mechanism.

12. The abrading apparatus deiined in claim 11, wherein said power operated means is operable to rotate said article carrying means and said blade member in opposite directions.

.13. In an abrading apparatus, a generally upright cylindrical housing Ahaving a horizontal floor; a trough provided in said oor and having means for conveying abrasive away therefrom; i

a work carrying mechanism mounted inl said housing and operable to carry articles in a substantially horizontal path above said iioor; means for propelling abrasive downwardly upon said articles of work, the abrasive gravitating to said floor after it has been spent againstsaid work; a peripheral conical wall extending upwardly from a region spaced inwardly from the outer edge of said iioor to a region outwardly of the path of movement of said articles, for receiving abrasive gravitating from said work and conveying it to said iioorA at a point inwardly of the periphery of said floor, and a rotatable scraper mechanism having blades of substantially smaller radius than the radius of said horizontal floor disposed in said housing inwardly of the inner periphery of said conical wall and operable to propel the abrasive accumulated on said floor to said trough.

14. In an abrading apparatus, an upright shaft` mounted for rotation in a generally cylindrical housing having a horizontal oor; means for ro-v tating said shaft in one direction, e plurality ofv arms connected to the lower end of said shaft,

a hollow structure telescoped over the upper end of said shaft and journaled for rotation with respect thereto; a power transmitting mechanism drivingly connected to said shaft and said hollow structure for causing the latter to rotate in a direction opposite to said shaft; a plurality of work supports carried by said hollow structure, said supports being rotatable about substantially vertical axes; and means mounted on said arms for causing said work supports to rotate about their vertical axes when said shaft is rotated.

l5. The apparatus dened in claim 14, together with a scraper assembly carried by said armsy facing lubricant chamber therein and having an internal gear provided on the inner wall thereof; a drive pinion mounted on the upper end of said shaft and atleast one gear carried by said cap member and intermeshing with said drive pinion and said internal gear member; for causing rotation of said shaft in one direction to produce rotation of said hollow structure in the opposite direction, said hollow structure having a plurality of'work supporting table-like members-mounted thereon for movement over said iioor.

1'7. Ilhe apparatus denedin claim 16, wherein said cap member is telescopingly related to said drum and is provided with means for preventing lubricant from escaping therebetween, to provide a hollow lubricant housing for continually bathing said gears'with lubricant.

18. In an abrading apparatus, a conveyor mechanism mounted for travelling movement in a substantially'horizontal path into and out of a blasting zone; a plurality of tables carried by said conveyor mechanism and mounted for rotation about substantially vertical axes thereon; a member pivoted on said conveyor mechanism adjacent each ofsaid tables; a roller mounted,

for rotation on each of said members and adapted to frictionally cooperate with said tables; means for automatically rocking said members so as to engage said rollers with tables and for rotating said rollers when said tables are traversing said blasting zone, land for automatically allowing said rollers to be disengaged from said tables when the latter are travelling outside of said blasting zone.

19. The apparatus dened in claim 18, wherein said member is pivoted on said conveyor mechanism for rocking movementin avertlcal plane disposed substantially parallel to the path of translatory movement of said tables.

20. 'Ihe apparatus deiined in claim 18, wherein said member is pivoted'on said mechanism for rocking movement in avertical plane disposed transverse to the path of translatory movement 21. In an abrading apparatus, a plurality of tables mounted for movement in a substantially horizontal circuitous path from a loading station to a blasting station, said tables each being rotatable aboutfa substantially vertical axis, means y said tables being adapted for limited up and down movement; supporting means for carrying the weight of said tables and maintaining them at a predetermined level when they are travelling over one portion of said path; and driving means for supporting said tables and affecting rotation thereof about their axes when they are travelling over another portion of their path.

` 23. In an abrading apparatus, a generally up-l right cylindrical housing having a substantially horizontal floor; abrasive removing means; an article carrying mechanism disposed in said housing and movable in a horizontal circuitous path above said Hoor; means for propelling 24. The abrading apparatus defined inclaim- 23 wherein said articlecarryingmeans and said blade member rotate inopposite directions. 25. In an abrading apparatus, meansto project abrasive at abrading velocity, and means to convey work through said projected abrasive comprising a substantially vertical shaft, an annulus supported onsaid shaft, a second annulus supported on said shaft and vertically spaced 10J ported by said annuli, and work supporting from said flrst annulus, a cylindrical shell supmeans supported by and extending radially from the bottom of the cylinder thus formed.

26. In an abrading apparatus, means to project abrasive at abrading velocity, means to` convey. work through said projected abrasivecomprising a substantially vertical shaft, an annulus supported on said shaft, a second annulus supported on said shaft and vertically spaced from said first annulus, said annulif-be' g connected at their outer peripheries for mut supporting means supported by and extending radially from the bottom of the assembly thus formed.

WM. A. ROSENBERGER.

l support, and work 

